Security agencies, comprising the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Army have debunked claims that 37 people died after inhaling toxic fumes at Okari Jetty in Okrika Mainland, Rivers State.
The clarification was made public on Friday, September 4, 2026, by non-governmental advocacy group LightHope Succor Worldwide Initiative (LSWI).
The statement followed viral reports circulating on Thursday, September 3, 2026, which alleged that 37 individuals, suspected to be local youths involved in illegal oil bunkering, choked to death around 12:00 a.m. after inhaling poisonous fumes while siphoning petroleum products at the jetty.
In an official statement signed by LSWI spokesperson Evelyn Williams, the group revealed that it conducted independent inquiries with top commanders of the military and police formations in the area after the media reported the mass casualty incident.
“Following the circulation of the report, LightHope Succor Worldwide Initiative sought direct clarification from senior authorities of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Army responsible for the area,” Williams stated. “The security authorities confirmed that no such incident occurred at Okari Jetty on September 3, 2026.”
“Consequently, our preliminary investigation has been unable to establish the veracity of the reported 37 fatalities,” Williams added. “The information obtained from relevant security authorities indicates that the report is fake news and without credible factual basis.”
The denial presents a sharp contradiction to claims made by the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), led by Executive Director Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene, and local Civilian JTF Commander Godswill, who both insisted on Thursday that dozens had succumbed to lethal chemical fumes while tapping pipelines at the riverfront.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Police Command spokesperson ASP Blessing Agabe previously noted that while oil theft attempts were being monitored, no formal complaint or body recovery regarding 37 deaths had been established with the command.
LightHope Succor Worldwide Initiative urged the originators of the claims to present verifiable evidence and called on news outlets to enforce strict editorial verification before publishing sensational casualty counts.
The organization stressed, however, that debunking the unverified report does not downplay the ongoing environmental degradation, illegal refining, and security risks plaguing the Niger Delta region.
